Shoe repair last



I March 7, 1939. I M. CHOMA 2,149,334

SHOE] REPAIR LAST Filed July 6, 1937 /3 v /7 Z5 Z2 /A/ l ENTO 2: M/CHA CHoMA,

.BYWC/OWA 15 edge of the flat sole-receiving portion ofthe last.

Patented Mar. 7, 1939 PATENT OFFICE snoe REPAIR LAST Michail Choma, East St.'Louis, 111., assignor of one-half to John Mongan, East St. Louis, 111.

Application July 6, 1937, Serial No. 151,981

2 Claims.

' "The present invention relates generally to shoe repair lasts, and more particularly to a shoe repair last which is-of a. construction to substantially fill the toeand vamp portions of a shoe being repaired and which includes adjustable means for receivingthe shank portion.

l-leretofore, many types of shoe repair lasts have been constructed, but none of them has been of a construction to completely fulfill all of the requirements of a repair last. Prior repair lasts have been constructed with the toe and'vamp portion flat or substantially fiat and with an adjustable portion adapted to fit against "the shank portion of a shoe being repaired which breaks or is pivoted substantially along the rear Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a shoe repair last which is of a configuration to substantially fill the toe and vamp portion of a shoe being repaired.

Another object is to provide a shoe repair last Which includes novel adjustable shank-engaging means which isadapted to be employed in the repair of shoes of various pitches between the shoe sole-and the heel seat.

Another object is to provide a shoe repair last which includes a novel adjustable shank-receiving portion which is pivoted to the main body of the last along an axis spaced a substantial distance from the rear edge of the sole-receiving portion of the last and above the .bottom plane thereof.

Another object is to provide a novel shoe repair last which is adapted to fulfill all of the objects and advantages sought therefor.

Another object is to provide a shoe repair last which is simple in construction, economical to ,manufacture, and simple and efficient to use in shoe repair work.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a shoe repair last constructed in accordance with the concepts of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the shoe repair last shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the shoe repair last shown in Fig. V

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 1, showing the adjustable shank-engaging means at one stage of adjustment;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, showing the adjustable shank-engaging means at another stage of adjustment;

Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the shoe repair last shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 7 is a view showing the shoe repair last shown in Fig. '1 in position in a shoe being repaired, parts of the shoe being broken away to disclose the manner in which the last fills the shoe vamp and toe.

Referring to the drawing more particularly by reference numerals, IO indicates generally a shoe repair last which includes a main body I I having a top portion I2 and a bottom portion I3. The

' top portion I2 is substantially fiat along the top surface 14 with the exception of a small depression I5 into which a pressure mechanism is adapted to fit. The bottom portion I3 is flat along the bottom surface I6 and is of a configuration to fit within and to conform to the toe and vamp of a standard shoe. Extending rearwardly from the bottom portion I3 at a substantial distance above the plane of the bottom surface I6 is 'a pair of spaced projections I! which have aligned apertures I8 therethrough,

The shank-engaging assemblage I9 includes a member 29 which has an arcuate lower surface 2| pivoted between the projections I1 by a projection 22 having an aperture 23 therein which is adapted to be aligned with the apertures I8. A pin 24 extends through the aligned apertures I8 and 23 and provides a pivotal axis for the member 20. At the free end of the member 20 is a series of transverse ridges 25 between which are depressions 26. A link or pawl 29 is pivoted in a depression 30 formed in a rear wall 3| of the top portion I2 upon a pin 32 which extends through an aperture 33 in the pawl 29 and through aligned apertures 34 in walls 35 forming the depression 30. The pawl 29 is shown as of arcuate form and at its free end is reduced to a point 36 which fits against a selected ridge 25 to maintain the member 20 in a selected disposition relative to the main body II.

The shoe repair last I0 may be made of any suitable material and by any preferred means. It is desirable that the main body ll be integral, although it can be constructed of united segments.

Opcmti0n.--The shoe repair last I0 constructed as described in accordance with the concepts of the present invention is clearly adapted to fulfill all of the objects and advantages sought therefor and to function in an eflicient manner. The last I0 is inserted into a shoe 3'! until it assumes the position shown in Fig. '7. It is apparent that the forward part of the lower portion I3 fills out the toe and vamp portions of the shoe. The

shank assemblage I9 is adjusted so that the member 20 conforms to the inner pitch of the shank portion of the shoe 31.

The last l and the shoe 31 are then adapted to be placed in a pressing machine, the force of which is transmitted to the last I0 at the depression l5 in the usual manner, the half or full sole having been previously coated with glue and applied to the bottom of the shoe 3'! in the conventional manner of shoe repair. When the last it and the shoe 3'! are subjected to pressure, the toe and vamp of the shoe 3! are not distorted, inasmuch as the fully fashioned forward part of the lower portion l3 braces these portions of the shoe 31. Hence, work may be done upon the toe and vamp portions of the shoe 3'! while on the shoe repair last l0, and the shoe 31 can be restored to its original shape.

It is well known that the soles of shoes become warped, turned up, and the like, when worn. It is thus apparent that, when the fiat bottom'surface of a repair last of conventional construction is pressed down upon the inner surface of the shoe sole, the toe and vamp portions will be drawn out of shape. It is impossible to perform any reliable repair work upon these portions of a shoe when they are thus distorted. There has been provided in the instant last lo a device which obviates this distortion of the vamp and toe portions of a shoe.

Further, the disposition of the pin 24 at a substantial distance above the plane of the lower surface [6 obviates the use of a sharp break at the juncture of the shank and sole portions such as is found in a conventional repair last. The smooth, rounded juncture between the flat surface IG and the shank portion of the last l0 results in a device which is adapted to smoothly fit a wide range of shoe sizes having different shank pitches. The break between the shank assemblage l9 and the main body I I is thus disposed at a point comparable to the position of the reverse curve of a conventional shank. When,

as in a conventional last, the break or pivot line between the shank assemblage and the main body is disposed substantially in the plane of the bottom surface of the last, then no smooth reverse curve can be formed and the result is a deforming of the shank portion of the shoe when the last is placed under pressure.

Further, there has been provided a simple adjustable shank assemblage which is easy to operate, yet which is thoroughly eflicient in performing its share of the repair operation. The member 20 and the pawl 29 may be removed for replacement for any reason merely by the removal of the respective securing pin 24 or 32.

It is thus apparent that there has been provided a novel shoe repair last which includes many improved features. It is to be understood that the foregoing description and accompanying drawing have been given by way of illustration and example and not by Way of limitation, the invention being limited only by the following claims.

'What is claimed is:

l. A shoe repair last comprising a main body, and a shank assemblage, said assemblage including a member pivoted to the main body at a point spaced a substantial distance above the lower surface thereof, and a pawl pivoted to said main body adjacent the top surface thereof, said mem ber including means adjacent the free end thereof to receive the free end of the pawl to selectively position the member relative to the main body.

2. A shoe repair last comprising a main body including an upper portion and a lower portion, and a shank assemblage including a member pivoted to the lower portion terminating in a free end having alternating transverse ridges and depressions adjacent thereto and a link pivoted to the upper portion terminating in a free end adapted to selectively fit Within a depression and against a ridge to position said member relative to said main body.

. MICHAIL CHOMA. 

